March 31st 2013 Easter: Jesus is worthy of our Everything

As we celebrate the resurrection of the risen Lord Jesus, we take a fresh look at the radical claims he made, reminding us again that Jesus is worthy of nothing less than total devotion.

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

Easter: Jesus is worthy of our everything

March 31st , 2013  by Kasey Crawford

Today’s Passages: Mark 1:14-15; 2:5-6, 10:45; John 6:15, 8:48-49

 

Easter is an opportunity to notice in a fresh way how ________ Jesus truly is.

 

C.S. Lewis concluded that the claims Jesus made demand the response that he is either is a _________, a ________ or truly the Lord.

 

Today’s question: how can I ___________ myself more fully to the one who is worthy of my everything?

 

A few of the claims of Jesus that cannot be ignored:

Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”   Mark 1:14–15

 

#1. Jesus claims that __________ is invading earth!

Imagine if you met someone on the street who basically said, ” I’ve got good news from God…there is a new way of life that the world hasn’t seen yet. Glimpses of heaven invading earth and its right in front of you, you’ve just got to follow me to reach out and grab it.”  How would you feel about them?

 

#2. Jesus claims to have the ____________ ____________ to bring people back into a right relationship with God.

Jesus tells a crippled man, “Your sins are forgiven.” and the religious leaders rightly ask “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:5-6

Is Jesus a con-artist that wants power?

Shortly after feeding 5000 people…”Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.   John 6:15

 

If Jesus was a fraud and wanted to ­­­­­___________ the people and take advantage of power, now was the time but he is not interested.

 

In fact, the way of Jesus that runs consistent throughout the gospels is the __________ ________ of power and prestige, to the point of death.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45

 

#3 Jesus claims that he will _________ his life as a ____________ for others.

 

To ransom is to buy something back that’s been lost or stolen, and in this case it’s ________!

 

#4 Jesus claims to be the ______________ existent _______.

Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:48-49

This hearkens back to when God told Moses his name was “I AM.”

 

Worthy of our everything…

If these claims are true (which Easter proves they are!!), then Jesus is truly Lord and worthy of complete devotion: allowing him to regularly be shaping and reshaping our hearts, our minds, our attitudes, our goals, our priorities until everything comes in line with the wholeness and holiness of heaven.

 

 

What is God saying to you today?

In response to who Jesus truly is, how can you live more fully surrendered and devoted to him?

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